In this issue:

1. A new paradigm for walking and biking funding

2. Important read from Dr. Tom Bonnicksen on Forest Health

3. March of Dimes Race for Babies

1. A NEW PARADIGM FOR WALKING AND BIKING FUNDING

The Advocacy Corner of the July Rail-Trail eNews discussed the three federal transportation bills since 1991 that have provided the majority of funding for trails, walking and biking facilities across the country.

We also mentioned the strong role Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) believes active transportation (walking and biking) must play in the next transportation bill. Rail-trails and their connections are often the backbone of local transportation systems. That’s why we’re leading the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation:

http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/2010Campaign.html

-to double the federal funding for trails, walking and biking.

Walking and biking currently receive less than two percent of all transportation funds nationally. But these modes carry nearly 10 percent of all trips! Additionally, current funds support individual projects all across the country. With so much competition for limited funds, it becomes difficult to build completed walking and biking networks that connect the places where people live, work, shop and play.

RTC is calling for a new model. Through the 2010 Campaign for Active Transportation, we’re working with dozens of communities all over the country that are pushing for focused funds to encourage more walking and biking and less driving. Ultimately, those individuals who want to walk or bike to get where they’re going must be able to do so safely.

If you’re curious as to why we want to see more people walking or biking, be sure to check out these entertaining and inspiring videos:

http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/trailadvocacy/TL_videos.html

And for those of you looking for more background on this issue, see some of these great presentations from our TrailLink 2007 conference:

http://www.railstotrails.org/whatwedo/events/traillink2007/powerpoints.html

Sincerely,

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

P.S. Ask your friends to take the Burn Calories, Not Carbon!TM pledge now:

http://support.railstotrails.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pledge

In addition to promoting more walking and biking and less driving, this will allow your friends to join the movement to speak up for active transportation. Thank you!

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
2121 Ward Ct., NW
5th Floor
Washington, DC 20037
+1-202-331-9696

2. IMPORTANT READ FROM DR. TOM BONNICKSEN ON FOREST HEALTH

Dr. Bonnicksen is an expert of Forest Health with a Ph.D. in Wildland Resource Science (natural resource policy, minor in public administration) from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of “America’s Ancient Forests: from the Ice Age to the Age of Discovery.”

Dr. Bonnicksen is a well known supporter of the active management of our forests who predicted the current disastrous/catastrophic fires we have been experiencing. He recently wrote the report “Greenhouse gas emissions from four California Wildfires; opportunities to prevent and reverse environmental and Climate impacts.”

If you are a supporter of returning our forests to a healthy state we encourage you to read the report posted at:

http://www.calforestfoundation.org/pdf/FCEM-2.pdf

3. MARCH OF DIMES RACE FOR BABIES

Officiated by “Racers & Chasers”

Join local mountain bike enthusiast in a race to raise $5000 in a day to help prevent premature birth.

Vail Lake August 2nd registration starts 6:30am Races start 9am

Entry fee donation of $35.00 and up suggested. Entry will include one free meal ticket and entry into one race class. Donations will be tax deductible.

Awards ceremony for all 9 race classes with local prizes and gifts.

BBQ hosted by (Local food chain or market TBD).

Class:Men Women 16-29, 30-39, 40-49.Expert 3laps, Intermediate 2 laps, Beginner 1 lap

Race contact Robert at:

www.Racersandchasers.com

Sponsors contact John at (951) 676-3057

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. Chino Hills State Park Volunteer Single Track Clean-Up Day – Saturday, July 26th

2. Cleveland National Forest requests comments on Travel Management EA

1. CHINO HILLS STATE PARK VOLUNTEER SINGLE TRACK CLEAN-UP DAY – SATURDAY, JULY 26TH

OK folks, time to block out Saturday July 26th to give back to the trails from 8 am to noon. I have organized a single track clean-up day at Chino Hills State Park in conjunction with the State Park, Trails4All, and other affiliated groups. It looks like we will have a mixed group of mountain bikers, hikers, and equestrians.

As we expect it to be warm that day, please bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, snacks, and work gloves. Everyone will need to meet at the Equestrian Staging Area:

Here’s the final schedule. Due to the heat, park officials have decided to start at 6 am.

6:00 a.m. – volunteers arrive and sign in at equestrian staging area
6:30 a.m. – orientation
6:45 a.m. – begin working
12:30 – 12:45 – return and clean up.

SHARE has generously offered to provide lunch for all volunteers and the Warrior’s Society will be providing beverages.

For those who don’t know, Bane Ridge is the single track that drops into the Equestrian Staging Area from the north:

If there are enough volunteers, hopefully we can also clear Raptor Ridge, a crowd favorite.

Here’s the official word from the rangers on bringing our own hand tools and power tools:

“Bring the gas powered weed whackers but depending on the conditions and weather we may not authorize them. We will decide the day of. Bring your hand tools.”

RSVP here

For us STR peeps, I plan on meeting at the gate around 6 AM to drive into the park with tools and our bikes. You are more than welcome to ride into the park, but if you have tools in hand, this might be kind of difficult.

Bring any tools you think may be helpful: shovels, metal rakes, machetes, etc.

Red flag winds will cancel the event.

For more Information please contact:

Ranger Stephen:

Dstephen@parks.ca.gov

or the park office at 951-780-6222

Samer from socaltrailriders.org:

samjfarhat@yahoo.com

2. CLEVELAND NATIONAL FOREST REQUESTS COMMENTS ON TRAVEL MANAGEMENT EA

The Cleveland National Forest is seeking public comment on their Environmental Assessment (EA) dealing with motorized travel management. The EA released on July 15, 2008, for a 30-day comment period, contains proposed changes to the Forest’s transportation system, including adding roads for highway-legal vehicles only; adding trails for ATVs and motorcycles; and revising the size of the Corral Canyon and Wildomar OHV open areas.

These activities are proposed in order to implement the 2005 Travel Management Rule (36 CFR 261) while still providing for a diversity of motorized vehicle recreation and for motorized access to dispersed recreation locations. The EA discloses environmental impacts associated with a no action alternative, the proposed action that was released for scoping in January 2008, and an alternative that was developed using comments submitted by the public during the scoping period.
The EA and maps of the proposed changes can be viewed on the Cleveland National Forest website at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/cleveland/projects, by visiting one of the four offices or by contacting Anne Carey at (858) 674-2901.

The Forest will also be hosting three open houses to answer questions about this EA at the following locations:

Thursday, July 17, 2008 4:00-7:00 pm
Palomar District Office
1634 Black Canyon Road
Ramona, CA

Thursday, July 24, 2008 5:30-7:30pm
Descanso District Office
3348 Alpine Boulevard
Alpine, CA

Monday, July 28, 2008 4:00-6:00 pm
Trabuco District Office
1147 E 6th Street
Corona, CA

Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until August 13, 2008.

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS:

MAIL OR HAND DELIVER COMMENTS TO:

Anne Carey, Recreation Officer
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127

Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FAX COMMENTS TO:

Cleveland National Forest office, at (858) 673-6192

EMAIL COMMENTS TO:

r5_cleveland_ohv_suggestions@fs.fed.us

Put “Cleveland NF Travel EA Comments” in the subject line. Acceptable formats are MS Word, Word Perfect, or RTF. Comments should include your name and address.

For questions or additional information, please contact Anne Carey, Forest Recreation Planner, at (858) 674-2901.

JUST REMEMBER, PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IS CRUCIAL TO KEEP RECREATION AREAS OPEN, PLEASE GET INVOLVED!

Thanks in advance for your support,

Ric Foster
Public Lands Department Manager
BlueRibbon Coalition
208-237-1008 ext 107

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt

www.warriorssociety.org

In this issue:

1. OCTA Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan

2. Stewards of the Sequioa Kennedy Meadows Wildfire Update

1. OCTA COMMUTER BIKEWAY STRATEGIC PLAN

Here is your opportunity to voice your opinion on the future of bikeways in the county. Please click on this link and take the survey.
The survey closes July 15th:

http://www.altaprojects.net/octa/Main.html

Here’s a summary:

“The OCTA Commuter Bikeways Strategic Plan Update will provide an updated inventory of all existing bikeways in Orange County. It will also identify all of the bikeways that have been proposed by the 32 OC Cities and the County of Orange, qualifying these jurisdictions for funding from the California State Bicycle Transportation Account. Strategic gaps in the existing bikeways network and key regionally-significant projects will be identified for priority funding.”

2. STEWARDS OF THE SEQUOIA KENNEDY MEADOWS WILDFIRE UPDATE

Hi Forest & Trail Lovers

The Sequoia Forest asked us to post information on two new fires the Dark & Woodpecker in the Kennedy Meadows area.

Hopefully they will be able to be controlled so they do not incinerate Kennedy Meadows as the Piute fire has done at a cost to date of over $18,000,000.

Read more here about the Kennedy Meadows fires & see the most recent Piute Burn area maps:

http://www.stewardsofthesequoia.org/SequoiaFireUpdate.html

If you would like to restore forest health please contact Congressman McCarthy’s office at 661 327-3611 and ask how the Congressman plans to thin our overgrown diseased forest to reduce fuel loads & promote forest health.

Shimano is the Major Component Sponsor of the Warrior’s Society

Rock N Road Bike Shops, Sho-Air Racing, El Pollo Loco and Switchback Cyclery are Major Sponsors of the Warrior’s Society

Clif Bar is the Official Energy Bar and Gel of the Warrior’s Society

The Warrior’s Society is a Blue Ribbon Coalition (BRC) affiliated organization

The Warrior’s Society is a Tax Exempt Organization under 501 (c) 4 of the IRS Code

“Far better it is to dare mighty dreams, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take the ranks with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat!”

Theodore Roosevelt